Road surface marker



March 1 1968 R. w. TAYLOR-MYERS 3,

ROAD SURFACE MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1966 Amen/r02IZZY/.02 MYERS March 19, 1968 R. w. TAYLOR-MYERS 3,373,667

ROAD SURFACE MARKER Filed June 17, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2'1 55 I I H:

. WZin Loe M14525 htates ice 3,373,667 RDAD SURFAiTE MARKER Robert W.Taylor-Myers, 2530 /2 N. Beechwood Drive, Hollywood, Calif. W928 FiledJune 17, 1966, Ser. No. 553,382 8 Claims. {CL 94-45) This inventionrelates to a road surface marker.

An object of the present invention is to provide a road marking unit ofthe type that is anchored in the roadway pavement to mark lanes oftrafiic, alone or in combination with painted traific lines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a road surface marker ofthe character referred to that extends partly above the road surface,said extending portion being depressible by auto and other tires, in theevent the same are run over by vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a road marker unit, asabove characterized, the depressible portion being provided withlight-reflecting means which are protected against damage due to thesame being moved below the surface of the road when the depressibleportion of the marker is depressed in the manner above referred to, orin any other manner by pressure from above.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a road surfacemarker having a non-metallic depressible portion which is alsocompressible to minimize damage thereto by the hazards of being runover.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a road surfacemarker that provides a construction and arrangement that facilitatesrapid replacement of the depressible portion should the same become wornafter long use.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a road surfacemarker that is easily incorporated in a road surface whether to marklanes or lines on old road surfaces or new pavement.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The above objects of the invention are realized in a structure thatcomprises a metal base housing that is adapted to be set into a roadpavement, preferably flush with the surface thereof; a non-metallic,elastic and compressible core centered in a cavity in the housing,extending partly above the pavement surface, and provided, in theextending portion, with light reflectors disposed to catch headlightbeams of vehicular trafi'ic moving over said pavement; a combined clampand guard ring encircling the extending portion and preferably formed ofmetal to withstand road wear; refiectonwiping portions provided on saidguard ring; and a plurality of bolts to removably affix the guard ringto the base housing, the same, when snugged up, clamping the depressiblecore in operative position and, when removed, enabling lifting of theguard ring so replacement of the core may be effected; said guard ringbeing provided with passages affording ejection passage of particles ofgrit and other foreign matter dislodged by the core, as the same returnsto normal operating position after depression thereof by a vehicle.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description, and which is based on theaccompanying drawings. However, said drawings merely show, and thefollowing description merely describes, preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, which are given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a road surface markeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof as seen from the bottom ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line d4 of FIG. 1.

REG. 5 is a cross-sectional View as taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional View as taken on the line 6-6 of RIG. 1.

PEG. 7, to an enlarged scale, is a cross-sectional view as taken on theplane of line 43 of FIG. 1, showing a vehicle tire in the process ofrunning over the marker and causing the core thereof to be depressed andthe reflectors moved to a position below the road surface.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base housing of said marker.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the plane of line 99 ofFIG. 8 and in which the base housing is modified for installation inexisting road pavement.

FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 9 show a pavement it having a surface M which,preferably, is a road surface that may or may not be marked with atrailic line 12, indicated in FIG. 1, in which the marker of the presentinvention is incorporated as part thereof. It will be clear that thetraffic line 12, provided with a series of suitably spaced markers,provides a lane-defining means readily seen by the operators of oncomingvehicles from either direction.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the present markeris anchored in the pavement it), which is newly laid pavement that formsa seat 13 which the marker occupies. In the form of FIG. 9, a suitablyshaped seat 14 is cut into the pavement for receiving the marker, a setof expanded sockets 15 being located in the pavement to receive bolts16a, the purpose of which will be later described. At least part of theseat v1 i is undercut, as at 17. It will be necessary, therefore, tofill in cement or concrete around the marker, as represented by the reas18.

The road surface marker that is illustrated comprises, generally, a basehousing 29 of metal and preferably set into the pavement 13, as in FIGS.2, 4 and 7, or as in FIG. 9 in the manner above described, acompressible and depressible core 21 centered and mounted in saidhousing 2.6), light-reflecting units 22; mounted in said core andnormally disposed above the surface 11 of the pavemeat 10, a combinedclamp and guard ring 23 around the core 21, the same being fixedly yetremovably secured to the housing by the mentioned bolts 16a, which havethreaded connection with the expanded sockets, or by bolts 16, whichengage in tapped seats in the base housing 20, reflector-wiping portions24 mounted on the guard ring forward of the light-reflecting units 22,and passage means 25 affording rejection passage of grit and otherforeign particles when the core returns to normal operating positionafter being compressed and depressed by a vehicle tire 26 or the like.

The base housing 2b is preferably formed of a light, corrosion-resistantmetal, but forming the same of highimpact plastic is contemplated as apossibility. Said housing, as shown in FIG. 8, is preferablyrectangular, provided with a smaller, lower cavity 31?, and a larger,upper seat 31 that bottoms on a shoulder surface 32 and is circumscribedby a rectangular wall 33. So that storage space for these items may beconserved, the bottom 34 of the housing may be formed to nest into theseat 31. in practice, whether incorporated in new pavement or in old,the upper edge 35 of the wall 33 is set to be flush with as seen fromthe right 3, the road surface 11. For accuracy of positioning thehousing in the pavement, a centering mark or groove 36 may be used tocenter the device on a line or a painted stripe.

As can be seen in both forms of housing shown, at least part of theouter surface 37 of the housing tapers from the bottom up, therebyinsuring that the housing will be firmly anchored in and closelyencompassed by the pavement material. The tapper holes or seats 38 inthe housing 26, as in FIGS. 1 to 7, and the clearance holes 39 in thehousing, as in FIGS. 8 and 9, are arranged at the corners of the housingand open on the shoulder surface 32.

The core 21 is preferably formed of a material of which sponge rubber isa prime example. The same is molded so as to have a lower rectangularand downwardly tapered part 40 that extends into the cavity 3% of thebase housing, a flange 41 that fits into the seat 31 of the base housingand is supported on the shoulder surface 32, and a rectangular upperpart 42 that is provided with a domed or rounded top surface 43 andwhich extends from the flange 41 substantially above the upper edge 35.The opposite front and rear faces 44, as seen in FIG. 5, are preferablyparallel and vertical and, where these faces ap proach the flange 4-1,are provided water-storing recesses 45. The lateral faces 46 arepreferably corrugated, as seen in both FIGS. 4 and 7. The part 40 of thecore is substantially smaller than the cavity, as in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and9, affording space into which this part may be depressed and compressedby pressure on the surface 43, as by a tire 26 riding thereover.

The light-reflecting units 22 may comprise more or less standard-typereflector buttons which open on the faces 44 of the upper extension 42of the core 21, these buttons being located above the upper edge 35 ofthe base housing 26. In this case, said reflector buttons may beattached to a plastic or aluminum mounting 47 which will anchor thebuttons in the porous mass of the core part 42.

The combined clamp and guard ring 23 is preferably formed of tough,strong and wear-resistant metal to have a rectangular outer formconforming closely to the outer shape of the upper edge 35 of the basehousing, and a lower part 48 that fits into the seat 31 of said housingand bears upon the flange 41 of the core 21. The ring 23 has a generallyrectangular central opening 49 into which the core part 42 extends, andis provided with lateral portions 50 that are rounded over along theirouter sides and tapered down, front and rear, from the tops thereoftoward the level of the housing edge 35. FIGS. 2 and 4 show suchrounding of the portions 50, and FIGS. 3 and show the mentioned tapersof said portions, it being clear that an auto tire may ride thereoverwithout damage either to the ring 23 or to the auto tire. FIGS. 4 and 7,at 51, show that the lateral portions of the ring have inner corrugatedfaces that conform to the faces 46 of the core extensions 21, and FIG.5, at 52;, shows that the front and rear ring portions 53, which connectthe lateral portions 5-9, are relieved at their inner faces opposite tothe recesses 45.

Said ring portions 53 are lined with the reflector-wiping portions 24,the same having inwardly directed edges 54 that bear against theparallel faces 44 of the core extension 42 and the reflector buttons settherein. Said portions 24 are preferably made of rubber or comparablenon-metallic material.

The passage means 25 extend laterally through the ring portions 53 andserve as exit or rejection passages that eject grit and other foreignparticles that may enter the spaces between the faces 46 and 5-1 whenthe core is depressed and compressed. Upon release from tire pressure,said core part, returning to its extended. position, forces suchparticles laterally through the passages 25.

Since the core is porous. the same can not only be depressed into therecess 3%, but also may be compressed 43 to the point that allows a tireat to ride on and over the ring parts 50. In any case, the reflectorbuttons are dcpressed below the pavement level, as seen in FIG. 7,enabling the edges 54 of the liner portions 24 to Wipe accumulations ofgrime from said buttons.

Since the rubber core is amply protected by the ring portions 5%, heavymetal wheels of whatever type of vehicle cannot damage the same, whilesaid ring portions have sufficient strength and toughness to withstandsuch wheels.

It will be noted that the recesses 45 are located below the top edge 35of the base housing 20. It will be clear, therefore, that the same willserve as a means to conserve water which has seeped through the slots 25from the road surface, having passed along the lower corrugation of thecore 42 and along the flange 41. When the core is depressed, itcausesthe recess 45 to close and squirt water against the inner face ofthe ring 52, as in FIG. 5. On return of the core portion 42 after suchdepression, the edges 54 of the portions 24 will wipe the reflectorsclean and dry.

The top faces of the reflector-wiping portions 24 are level with thepavement surface 11, which presents minimum obstruction to a wheelpassing thereover.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is nowcontemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, theconstructions are, of course, subject to modification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desiredto restrict the invention to the particular forms of constructionillustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A road surface marker comprising:

(a) a. base housing having an upper edge and adapted to be set into thepavement of the road with said edge substantially flush with the roadsurface, said base having a top-open cavity with a horizontal seatbetween said edge and cavity,

(b) an elastic, compressible, nonmetallic core disposed in said cavitywith an upper portion extending above said housing edge,

(e) light-reflecting means carried by said upper portion of the core andnormally held thereby elevated above the level of the road surface,

(d) a flange around said core and disposed to rest upon said seat in thebase housing, and

(e) a ring secured to the top of the base housing to clamp the mentionedcore flange against the mentioned seat, said ring encircling the upperportion of the core, and provided with lateral thickened portions toguard said core and spaced on opposite sides of the light-reflectingmeans to expose the same to view.

2. A road surface marker according to claim 1 in which the mentionedcore is provided with a lower por tion that extends partly into the basehousing cavity and is adapted to move further toward the bottom of saidcavity under pressure from above on the upper portion of the core.

3. A road surface marker according to claim 2 in which the top of theupper core portion is domed and the lateral sides thereof arecorrugated, the latter guard portions of the ring being provided withcorrugated inner edges that conform to and fit against the corrugatededges of the upper core portion. I

4. A road surface marker according to claim 3 in which said guardportions of the ring are provided with laterally directed gritandparticle-conducting passages.

5. A road surface marker according to claim 1 in which thelight-reflecting means comprise oppositely facing reflector buttons, theupper extension of the core having opposite vertical faces in which saidbuttons are set, and non-metallic button-wiping members afiixed to thering on portions thereof that connect the lateral guard portions.

6. A road surface marker according to claim 5 in which oppositelydirected recesses are provided between said core extension and thewiping members above the flange thereof and opposite to the adjacentedges of the vertical faces, the button-wiping members being providedwith inwardly directed wiper edges that wipe material from the buttons.

7. A road surface marker according to claim 1 in which a plurality ofbolts, extending through the ring and in fixed engagement with the basehousing, replaceably hold the mentioned core in operative osition.

8. A road surface marker according to claim 1 in which the lateralthickened portions of the clamp and guard ring have elongated roundedtop faces with the ends thereof tapered toward the opposite edges of thering.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Vogler 941.5 Krebs 941.5 Shaw941.5 Stedman 941.5 Shaw 941.5 Cumming 94-15 X McRobbie 94-1.5Stolarczyk 941.5 Converse 94-15 X Kone 94-l.5

Italy.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. N. C. BYERS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A ROAD SURFACE MARKER COMPRISING: (A) A BASE HOUSING HAVING AN UPPEREDGE AND ADAPTED TO BE SET INTO THE PAVEMENT OF THE ROAD WITH SAID EDGESUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE ROAD SURFACE, SAID BASE HAVING A TOP-OPENCAVITY WITH A HORIZONTAL SEAT BETWEEN SAID EDGE AND CAVITY, (B) ANELASTIC, COMPRESSIBLE, NON-METALLIC CORE DISPOSED IN SAID CAVITY WITH ANUPPER PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID HOUSING EDGE, (C) LIGHT-REFLECTINGMEANS CARRIED BY SAID UPPER PORTION OF THE CORE AND NORMALLY HELDTHEREBY ELEVATED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE ROAD SURFACE, (D) A FLANGEAROUND SAID CORE AND DISPOSED TO REST UPON SAID SEAT IN THE BASEHOUSING, AND (E) A RING SECURED TO THE TOP OF THE BASE HOUSING TO CLAMPTHE MENTIONED CORE FLANGE AGAINST THE MENTIONED SEAT, SAID RINGENCIRCLING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CORE, AND PROVIDED WITH LATERALTHICKENED PORTIONS TO GUARD SAID CORE AND SPACED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OFTHE LIGHT-REFLECTING MEANS TO EXPOSE THE SAME TO VIEW.